Blythcliffe, Akaroa's Stately Home

Blythcliffe, Akaroa's Stately Home

Located within the charming and historic French settlement village of Akaroa, the elegant Blythcliffe is a short stroll from the many excellent cafes, restaurants and local attractions.

John and Lesley are lucky enough to live at Blythcliffe, they really enjoy welcoming guests to share its special history and place in Akaroa. Built in 1857, Blythcliffe sits within its own three acres of private grounds and is listed as an Historic Place Category 1 with Heritage New Zealand, Pouhere Taonga. Theyre very well-travelled around NZ and can offer some handy local travel knowledge should you need it. If youre looking for a unique accommodation experience in Akaroa that is a part of its historical past, to relax and make yourself at home in a beautiful old private, heritage house with antiques and character, Blythcliffe is the place for you.

Enjoy full access to our beautiful gardens, croquet lawn and petanque terrace. Take a walk in the Blythcliffe private forest, protected by a conservation order for many years and containing many spectacular examples of native trees, plants and birds. Feed our tame eels in the Balguerie Stream as it tumbles over its rocky bed. Or just lie in the sun and enjoy the peace and privacy of the Blythcliffe grounds.

Thought to have been designed by Samuel Charles Farr based on drawings by the Australian architect John Verge, Blythcliffe is Akaroa's oldest and one of its most loved grand old houses; our own stately home. Regarded as a special and outstanding example of the Colonial Regency style that is usually only found in New South Wales and America, it is the only registered example in New Zealand of a pure Palladian rendition of the Regency style in terms of the large house genre; where the style has not been influenced by colonial Victorian cottage elements. Blythcliffe sits within the Akaroa French Historic District that lies along the waterfront of Akaroa Harbour on Canterburys spectacular Banks Peninsula.

The Stables at Blythcliffe is perfect for those who enjoy their privacy; a completely separate and self-contained, luxurious converted stable building adjacent to the main house at ground floor level. It has its own grape lined, large sunny courtyard, perfect for breakfast or evening drinks. It is a very comfortable open plan space, generously furnished in antiques with one exception an extremely comfortable super king size bed You'll also enjoy the sitting and dining area with a modern kitchen and separate bathroom with shower and claw foot bath candles, champagne and bubble bath provided The Stables has a small TV with Netflix and a CD player.

The Rose Room.

One of three rooms available in the main house at Blythcliffe, The Rose Room is a wonderfully light and sunny room that very comfortably accommodates two. It is located on the first floor and accessed by a steepish, old staircase and the main hallway, you have access via French Doors to the balcony overlooking the croquet lawn and gardens to the harbour beyond, the perfect spot for breakfast or a complementary evening drink with the birdsYour private bathroom, with shower only, is located right next door to your room and accessed from the main hallway. If travelling with friends, consider adding a second queen size room to The Rose Room; located just across the hallway, the bathroom is shared.There is no TV in Rose Room, you do have unlimited wifi for all of your streaming needs. Tea and coffee making facilities are shared with The Willow Room guests in a small sitting room, also off the main hallway that leads onto the balcony.

The Willow Room.

The Willow Room is one of three rooms available in the main house at Blythcliffe, and is located on the eastern corner of the main house on our first floor. Accessed via an old steep-ish staircase and the main hallway, the morning sun pours into this peaceful queen size room with lovely garden and stream views. The room has an ensuite bathroom with claw foot bath and walk in shower, bubble bath and candles provided, this is a wonderfully quiet and relaxing room.The Rose Room is directly across the hallway, these two rooms are perfect for friends travelling together who do not wish to share bathroom facilities. There is no TV in Willow Room, you do have unlimited wifi for all of your streaming needs. Tea and coffee making facilities are shared with The Willow Room guests in a small sitting room, also off the main hallway that leads onto the balcony.

Room Descriptions

The Rose Room - Standard Rate

One of three rooms available in the main house at Blythcliffe, The Rose Room is a wonderfully light and sunny room that very comfortably accommodates two. It is located on the first floor and accessed by a steepish, old staircase and the main hallway, French Doors lead onto the balcony overlooking the croquet lawn and gardens to the harbour beyond, the perfect spot for breakfast or a complementary evening drink with the birds!Your private bathroom, with shower only, is located right next door to your room and accessed from the main hallway. If travelling with friends, consider adding a second queen size room - The Manuka Room - to your booking; located just across the hallway, the bathroom will be shared.Served in our heritage dining room, the Blythcliffe Breakfast is healthy and plentiful. Choose from cereal, fresh fruit salad, poached local fruit, warm croissants with homemade preserves ? including Lesley's award-winning marmalade! Cooked food includes NZ free-range bacon, Akaroa award winning ham and black pudding with eggs from our own free-range chickens. Special dietary needs are happily catered for.There is no TV in Rose Room, you do have unlimited wifi for all of your streaming needs. Tea and coffee making facilities are shared with The Willow Room guests in a small sitting room, also off the main hallway that leads onto the balcony.

Add on The Manuka Room, one queen sized bed, with garden and stream view. This room is only bookable with The Rose Room, just across the hallway, and the bathroom is shared between these two rooms only.

One of three rooms available in the main house at Blythcliffe, The Willow Room is located on the eastern corner of the main house on our first floor. Accessed via an old steep-ish staircase and the main hallway, the morning sun pours into this peaceful queen size room with lovely garden and stream views. The room is ensuite with claw foot bath and walk in shower, bubble bath and candles provided, this is a wonderfully quiet and relaxing room.The Rose Room is directly across the hallway, these two rooms are perfect for couples or friends travelling together; enjoy an evening glass of complementary wine on our wonderful first floor, super sunny balcony with magic views across the croquet lawn to the harbour beyond. Served in our heritage dining room, the Blythcliffe Breakfast is healthy and plentiful. Choose from cereal, fresh fruit salad, poached local fruit, warm croissants with homemade preserves ? including Lesley's award-winning marmalade! Cooked food includes NZ free-range bacon, Akaroa award winning ham and black pudding with eggs from our own free-range chickens. Special dietary needs are happily catered for.There is no TV in Willow Room, you do have unlimited wifi for all of your streaming needs. Tea and coffee making facilities are shared with The Rose Room guests in a small sitting room, also off the main hallway that leads onto the balcony.

The Stables at Blythcliffe is a completely separate, self-contained and private converted stable building adjacent to the main house at ground floor level. It has its own grape lined, large sunny courtyard, perfect for breakfast or evening drinks. It is a very spacious, open plan space and generously furnished in antiques with one exception ? an extremely comfortable super king size bed! You'll also enjoy the sitting and dining area with a modern kitchen and separate bathroom with shower and claw foot bath ? candles, champagne and bubble bath provided! The Stables has a small TV with Netflix and a CD player.Served in our heritage dining room, in your courtyard or your room, the Blythcliffe Breakfast is healthy and plentiful. Choose from cereal, fresh fruit salad, poached local fruit, warm croissants with homemade preserves ? including Lesley's award-winning marmalade! Cooked food includes NZ free-range bacon, Akaroa award winning ham and black pudding with eggs from our own free-range chickens. Special dietary needs are happily catered for.